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The rabbit defense system has a number of specific features: no lactoferrin and lysozyme are detectable and peroxidase activity is only demonstrated in the cubic epithelial cells of the ducts. Experiments carried out with radioactive amino acid, demonstrate the absence of secreted proteins with molecular weights corresponding to those of albumin and transferrin, indicating that these proteins are not synthesized by the lacrimal gland tissue. Rabbit tear pattern presents a set of acidic proteins secreted by the lacrimal gland tissue, with small molecular weight and acidic pI's.

The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of inflammatory lesions in the myocardium of subjects with dilated cardiomyopathy and to determine if there was any correlation between the results of two methods of evaluation, one (endomyocardial biopsy) invasive and the other (gallium-67 scintigraphy) noninvasive. Of 115 subjects recruited in seven centres, 91 met the inclusion criteria (left ventricular dilatation greater than or equal to 100 ml m-2 and ejection fraction less than 55% with normal coronary arteriography) and had endomyocardial biopsy (mean five specimens) and Ga-67 myocardial scintigraphy after several days. Scanning was considered doubtful 19 times and positive 13 times. The histologic count of mononuclear cells in the myocardial interstitium in 20 fields was greater than 5 cells field-1 in only four cases. No correlation was found between the two methods. Subjectivity in the choice of the criterion of positivity of Ga-67 scintigraphy and difficulties in identifying lymphocytes upon pathological examination were the major problems encountered. Despite limitations, both techniques suggest that cellular infiltrates are minimal and quite infrequent in dilated cardiomyopathy.

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